Blow-moldable water-filled freeweights

Abstract

A blow-moldable container, having a centrally located, generally tubular handle spanning a central recess has improved balance and ergonomics over existing blow-molded containers. Such a balanced container has great utility as a handheld freeweight, or as a container for pourable substances. An integrally molded base allows our container to be stood upright on end like a regular bottle. Products may be marketed in such containers under the premise that the consumer automatically acquires a freeweight by purchasing the product. The inclusion of fitably engageable contours on its top and bottom surfaces makes such a container stackable with others of its kind, for ease of packaging, shipping, and storage. A graduated set of handheld fillable freeweights may thus be compactly stored without a special rack. Since blow-molding offers great economy of production for sufficiently large numbers of containers, the average person will now be able to afford an entire graduated set of freeweights. Such freeweights may be shipped empty, and filled with water by the consumer, slashing shipping costs, and thereby further reducing the cost to the consumer. Blow-moldable, two-handed freeweights (barbells) are also disclosed. These also may be provided with contours offering enhanced stackability. Voids to fitably engage a user's feet further add to their utility. A deck member, as well as base members, may be stackably combined with the freeweights to form a stepping platform for aerobics, or an exercise bench. Methods for attaching fillable auxiliary weights to our handheld freeweights are also shown.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A step exercise apparatus comprising: 
       a deck member;  
       at least one pylon, said pylon having an aperture penetrating from one side thereof through to an opposing side and a handle spanning the aperture for use of the pylon as a freeweight; and  
       means for securely engaging a bottom surface of the deck member to the top surface of said pylon so that the deck may be raised for step exercises.  
     
     
       2. The step exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pylon has two apertures, each spanned by a handle, so that said pylon can serve as a barbell. 
     
     
       3. The step exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said two handles are oriented at an angle to each other. 
     
     
       4. The step exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said deck member comprises a fillable vessel. 
     
     
       5. The step exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pylon comprises a fillable vessel. 
     
     
       6. The step exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional pylon, said pylons having mutually interlocking surfaces allowing one to be stacked atop another so that the height of the deck member may be selectively varied. 
     
     
       7. The step exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one base member, a top side of each base member being provided with contour means which fitably engages a bottom portion of said pylon, said base member serving to increase the footprint of the pylon on a support surface. 
     
     
       8. A unitary jug, vertically stackable with others of its kind, said jug comprising: 
       a shell enclosing a hollow interior, said shell comprising a walled exterior surrounding a walled aperture which fully penetrates said jug from one side thereof through to an opposing side, said aperture penetrating said jug in a substantially vertical direction when said jug is oriented in a stacking position;  
       an elongate tubular handle means within and spanning said aperture substantially along the center of mass of said jug;  
       closable entry means for admitting material to the interior of said jug;  
       corresponding mutually engagable contours formed respectively on each said side in the region surrounding the periphery of said aperture and configured so that the contour of one side is fitably engagable with the corresponding contour on the opposing side, such that said jug is vertically stackable with others of its kind, one said side being shaped to provide a stable base for supporting a stack of said jugs on a planar support surface;  
       wherein, with said jugs being so stacked, the walls comprising said walled aperture being oriented in a substantially vertical direction, said walls comprising said walled aperture thereby adding to the vertical stacking strength of said jug.  
     
     
       9. The stackable jug of  claim 8 , wherein said walls of said aperture, being mutually interconnected, and also being connected to said side, and to said opposing side, additionally serve to provide shear strength to the overall structural integrity of said jug. 
     
     
       10. The stackable jug of  claim 9 , wherein said shear strength adds to stacking strength, when stacking a multiplicity of said jugs. 
     
     
       11. The stackable jug of  claim 8 , further comprising a deck member having contours configured to fitably engage the top surface of at least one said jug, whereby said jug serves to elevate said deck member to comprise a raised platform. 
     
     
       12. The stackable jug and deck member of  claim 11 , wherein said deck has contours configured to engage the top surface of a multiplicity of said jugs simultaneously, said deck substantially spanning the distance between said top surfaces, and serving as a means of physical communication therebetween. 
     
     
       13. The stackable jug in  claim 8 , having contours surrounding said entry means allowing said jug to be mounted atop a conventional water dispenser, with said entry means projecting substantially downward. 
     
     
       14. The stackable jug in  claim 8 , having contours surrounding said entry means allowing said jug to be mounted atop a conventional water dispenser, with said entry means projecting substantially downward. 
     
     
       15. The stackable jug of  claim 8 , wherein said jug is a member of a graduated set of jugs having a similar shape, which may vary volumetrically, wherein said contours are fitably engagable with other members of said set. 
     
     
       16. The stackable jug of  claim 8 , when part of a vertically stacked column of said jugs, wherein all said handles are recessed within said column, rather than protruding therefrom. 
     
     
       17. The stackable jug of  claim 8 , when part of a vertically stacked column of said jugs, wherein all said handles are recessed within said column, rather than protruding therefrom. 
     
     
       18. The stackable jug of  claim 8 , wherein said walls of said aperture, being mutually interconnected, and also being connected to said side, and to said opposing side, additionally serve to provide shear strength to the overall structural integrity of said jug. 
     
     
       19. The stackable jug of  claim 8 , having contours surrounding said entry means allowing said jug to be mounted atop a conventional water dispenser, with said entry means projecting substantially downward. 
     
     
       20. A unitary jug, vertically stackable with others of its kind, said jug comprising: 
       a shell enclosing a hollow interior, said shell comprising a walled exterior surrounding a walled aperture which fully penetrates said jug from one side thereof through to an opposing side, said aperture penetrating said jug in a substantially vertical direction when said jug is oriented in a stacking position;  
       an elongate tubular handle means within and spanning said aperture;  
       closable entry means for admitting material to the interior of said jug, a side of the walled exterior opposite the closable entry means being shaped to provide a stable base for supporting said jug in an open position without spillage;  
       corresponding mutually engagable contours formed respectively on each said side in the region surrounding the periphery of said aperture and configured so that the contour of one side is fitably engagable with the corresponding contour on the opposing side, such that said jug is vertically stackable with others of its kind, one said side being shaped to provide a stable base for supporting a stack of said jugs on a planar support surface;  
       wherein, with said jugs being so stacked, the walls comprising said walled aperture being oriented in a substantially vertical direction, said walls comprising said walled aperture thereby adding to the vertical stacking strength of said jug.  
     
     
       21. A unitary jug, vertically stackable with others of its kind, said jug comprising: 
       a shell enclosing a hollow interior, said shell comprising a walled exterior surrounding a walled aperture which fully penetrates said jug from one side thereof through to an opposing side, said aperture penetrating said jug in a substantially vertical direction when said jug is oriented in a stacking position;  
       an elongate tubular handle means within and spanning said aperture;  
       closable entry means for admitting material to the interior of said jug, said closable entry means comprising a filling neck protruding from an exterior wall of said jug;  
       corresponding mutually engagable contours formed respectively on each said side in the region surrounding the periphery of said aperture and configured so that the contour of one side is fitably engagable with the corresponding contour on the opposing side, such that said jug is vertically stackable with others of its kind, one said side being shaped to provide a stable base for supporting a stack of said jugs on a planar support surface;  
       wherein, with said jugs being so stacked, the walls comprising said walled aperture being oriented in a substantially vertical direction, said walls comprising said walled aperture thereby adding to the vertical stacking strength of said jug.